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Monday, March 11, 2013

Odd and the Frost Giants: Audiobook

Author: Neil Gaiman
Illustrator: Brett Heliquist
Title: Odd and the Frost Giants
Publication: September 22, 2009
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Children's
Length: 1 and 1/2 hours
Pages: 128
Audience: 8 and up
Rating: 5 out of 5
Source: Public Library

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads):The winter isn't ending. Nobody knows why.
And Odd has run away from home, even though he can barely walk and has to use a crutch.
Out in the forest he encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle - three creatures with a strange story to tell.
Now Odd is faced with a stranger journey than he had ever imagined.
A journey to save Asgard, City of the Norse Gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it.
It's going to take a very special kind of boy to defeat the most dangerous of all the Frost Giants and rescue the mighty Gods. Someone cheerful and infuriating and clever.
Someone just like Odd.

My thoughts:
This book was adorable, and I believe young children in particular, boys would love this book.  Odd is a young boy who will not let his disabilities put a limit on what he can do. As he ventures off on his own he will discover the world is much bigger and larger than his village. He will face great dangers, but not back down without a fight. Of course, Odd also has the help of Thor, Loki, and Odin all of whom he meets on his adventure. I do not know much about Norse mythology (except from what I know from the Marvel movies), but I really enjoyed this audiobook.

Neil Gaiman often narrates his own books. If you have never heard Mr. Gaiman narrate a book, then you are in for a treat! I listened to The Graveyard Book, Neverwhere, and Odd and the Frost Giants, all narrated by Neil Gaiman. His English accent is not overwhelming. The voices he gives each character is distinct to the point you know which character is speaking. I really enjoy it when the author narrates because they are able to portray the characters as they see them.

Just a note about the book, I did not read the book, but I did notice that Brett Heliquist was the illustrator. He illustrated The Series of Unfortunate Events. He is a great artist and if you are not an audiobook person, then I suggest the book. The book is great and I know the art will be great too.


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